Julia Turner, owner of Mix Colors Art Studio.Mix Colors Art Studio in Bristow Commons held its grand opening last weekend, providing visitors the opportunity to visit the studio and try out some of its arts and crafts.
Independently owned and operated Mix Colors Art Studio offers a variety of classes that allows adults and children to try several art mediums through attending walk-in sessions, art nights or weekly classes.
Opening the family-friendly educational art studio has been a dream of local artist Julia Turner for some time. An artist of 25 years, Turner has made her career as an art teacher at Northern Virginia Community College for the last 17 of those years.
Wanting to share her passion for art, for art's sake, she decided to offer a different kind of art education – one available to anyone even if just for one afternoon or evening.
“I wanted people to experience art for the sheer pleasure of it,” Turner said. “In general, I decided I needed a new challenge.”
Mix Colors provides classes in painting, drawing, clay working and pottery, beading, jewelry design and string art.
“I don’t follow any prescription,” said Turner, explaining she wants to provide classes the community is interested in taking.
At Mix Colors, students choose their own subject matter. For instance, she will be holding a paint your pet night, in which everyone paints a picture of their own pet.
Even when she teaches art basics, such as a landscape, she allows her students to choose their own subjects. In clay working, Mix Colors works with various types of clay to for different projects such as pottery or jewelry making.
During the month of April, Mix Colors offers several “Wine & Create” nights to introduce the studio in clay, jewelry and painting. She also offers morning coffee sessions and “Parent and Me” classes for young children during the day.
Family paints children's pottery during the studio's grand opening.She encourages people to plan the sessions to help them to relax.
“Art helps relieve stress,” she said. “It’s very Zen.”
Turner said she leaves work happy and hopes to pass that feeling on to her patrons.
Building upon her education background, in May, Mix Colors will begin teaching art classes to homeschooled children at the studio. Over the summer, she plans to hold week-long two-hour sessions for elementary age children.
She encourages adult art lovers to sign up for a weekly class in which they can learn and improve in one art form.
Turner believes Mix Color is very versatile and can meet the needs of various people interested in art. She has also kept classes and studio visits affordable.
The studio also offers an adjoining room, ideal for birthday parties, bachelorette parties or any kind of event in which art can be incorporated.
Turner is very excited to be starting this new venture, especially in Bristow.
She also believes her studio fits in nicely within Bristow Commons, which also features a music school and Montessori preschool and primary school.
Mix Colors Art Studio’s classes are listed online. Visit at mixcolorsartstudio.com. Mix Colors Art Studio is located at 9110 Devlin Road in Bristow.
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!